Self-Control Depletion and Its Impact on Impulsive Spending among Young Working Adults
Keywords:
Self-control depletion, Impulsive spending, Self-regulation, Digital consumer behavior, Young working adultsAbstract
Purpose – This study examines whether self-control depletion predicts impulsive spending among young working adults and addresses the limited understanding of how temporary reductions in self-regulatory capacity shape financial decisions in digital consumption environments. Methodology – A quantitative explanatory cross-sectional survey was conducted with 384 working adults aged 20–35 years in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia. Self-control depletion and impulsive spending were measured using structured five-point Likert-scale instruments. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and linear regression in IBM SPSS Statistics 29. Findings – Self-control depletion was positively associated with impulsive spending (r = 0.487, p < 0.001) and significantly predicted the outcome (β = 0.487, p < 0.001). The model explained 23.7% of the variance, and the relationship remained significant after demographic and behavioral controls were included. Implications – Financial well-being initiatives should complement financial literacy with behavioral strategies that help young workers manage spending during periods of reduced self-regulatory capacity. Digital platforms may also support responsible consumption through spending alerts, transaction limits, and cooling-off mechanisms. Originality – The study shifts the focus from trait self-control to state self-control depletion and connects temporary regulatory exhaustion with impulsive spending among economically active young adults, linking occupational self-regulation with personal financial behavior.
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